Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Rainy Days and Mondays

Well, it has been raining today, so we are enjoying fun and games inside. Yesterday,all day long, it looked like it was going to rain any minute, but it never did. It was cloudy with a cool breeze blowing and the smell of rain was in the air. It was kinda nice. I sat on the front porch and visited with my neighbor, as we watched our children play together back and forth between our front yards.

I have such a blessing in my friend and neighbor, Datha. We watch each others houses, feed each others fish and get the mail for each other, when one of us is out of town. The day before we left for our vacation to Denver, Mark's car broke down, so we let him borrow our other car while we were gone, and he returned it washed, waxed, and vacuumed out. We help each other out, and genuinely enjoy one anther's company. I know we may never find that again. I will miss them so much when we move. I mean how many friends can you sit and share prayer requests with and everything else from recipes to books and advice on jobs, husbands homes and children.

We were all going to go to the zoo together today, but, it did actually start raining. So we have been playing cowboys and Indians. We have a small set that are like the little green army men. The set was a gift from my aunt Karen to Trey and it came with a mat, tee pees, boats wagons, and horses. We sat in the floor for an hour playing. We also used the face painting set I had for Anna Grace's birthday party this last weekend. We didn't have a chance to use it, so we opened it up today. We've gone to the gym and played with their friends next door, and now the babies are watching Elmo's Christmas Countdown. Yes, I realize it is July, but, sometimes you're just in the mood for a little Christmas music, (right Ashley?!)

Vacation Bible School was so awesome last week, and I'm so glad I got to be apart of it. I had the preschool class, and everyday my class grew bigger and bigger. On the last day I couldn't even fit all the children in my class, so we went outside for our lesson and story time. Three children at VBS accepted Jesus as their personal savior last week. Praise the Lord!!!! That might not seem like a lot for VBS, but we have a very small church. We probably had 75 kids at the most in the whole program for the week. I was so proud to see Trey and Anna Grace learn their first couple of scripture verses. I thought Hugh was going to cry when they came home and said their verses to him. You can't help it. It is so sweet to see your little ones growing in the love of the Lord.

Now that VBS is over, however, I am back in the gym. We are down to the wire, with a year left before we go home, and I will not go back over weight. Hugh and I had done so well on weight watchers, and I have to be honest when I started having all the trouble with my step-father about this time last year, I started eating emotionally again. And I gained it all back and then some, so now is the time to let that weight go and all the yuck it represents in my life. Off with the old and on with the new, as they say. I've made a few attempts in the past year, but, it was like my heart wasn't in it. I was still holding on to too much yuck, and when I don't feel very good about myself, I self medicate with food. Even though I know this it's going to be a hard habit to break, so that's why I'm giving my self a realistic goal of a year, to change my life style and eating habits. Slow and steady wins the race. So, I'm going to be back in the gym everyday, except Sundays, and I have a good support system in my husband, my friends Heidi and Datha, and my sister Demetria, who all are going to be encouraging me everyday and keeping me accountable. I am also looking into a couple of new things health wise, just for me.

My cousin, David, was diagnosed with cancer earlier this year. We've never had cancer in our family, and it was a scare, let me tell you. But, we prayed him through it and the Lord took care of him through his surgery, and he is now cancer free. Well, when I saw him in Denver, he looked better than ever. He told me he is running everyday, and that he and his family have moved to a vegan diet. Since we stayed with him a couple of nights while we were visiting, we eat they way they did. And I liked it a lot. Now, am I becoming a vegan? NO. But, I am adopting a few things and incorporating it into my lifestyle.1. I am going to make sure I am eating more whole foods. -LOTS of Fruits and Veggies.2. I am going to stay away from processed foods, as much as possible. Now this is going to take a little getting used to, only because it is going to take a little more time and effort on my part to prepare meals, snacks, ect. As we all know anything in a box is much quicker and easier, but, unfortunately, not as healthy.3. We already eat whole wheat pasta bread, and of course brown rice. But, I would like to buy, as much as we can afford, organically, or naturally and locally grown as possible. And I'd like to be able to but "free range" meat, because it isn't pumped with as many chemicals. It's more natural. (This is one thing I know will not happen for a while, because of the simple fact of finances. But, it's something I want to read more on and look more into.)4. For me, and me alone, I am going to try to slowly eliminate dairy from my diet. I was dairy free for a little over a week, and I couldn't believe the difference in my energy. So, maybe that is the way to go. I could use more energy with two toddlers. The hardest part is going to be cheese. I love cheese. But, I went a week with out it and I substituted rice milk in place of my dairy milk, and it went really well. For a whole week I ate granola cereal with rice milk for breakfast, and eliminated all other dairy, and it was kinda startling. As far as the difference in the way I felt. So, I'm gonna go with it. I will keep you updated. So, that's my new plan for the year. That and exercise, exercise! Well, I'm off to clean the kitchen, while the babies nap! Hope you have a wonderful day! ~Blessings!

Hey Tiffany. It's been a long time since I've been by. I enjoyed reading your post, and browsing older ones. I had to laugh at your title as I just used that for mine blog today, with the addition of "oops... it's Wednesday!" We have had rainy weather for most of the past month... Good for you on wanting to make some lifestyle changes and recognizing the stressors in your life that trigger emotional eating. It is so hard to do...... Great news about your cousin David and about VBS - ours is in August. We have a very, very small church - all older people with no children for Sunday School so it is a challenge to do VBS. We usually have less than 10 or 12, but even one is important, right??!! Enjoy your little ones; time flies too quickly!

Dreaming of moonlight and magnolias, the sweet smell of kudzu growing wild. I see fields of snow white cotton and the trees dippin Spanish moss on the bayou. I hear Sunday church bells ring, time for the Gospel and a little hymn sing, sending spirits soaring high.Then we gather round mama’s table with a glass of sweet ice tea, squash, corn bread, a mess of greens and chicken or catfish country fried. Richly blessed by friends, family, faith, a touch of God’s grace, and yes~ my mama raised me right. With sugar and spice, a whole lotta nice, oh and a little southern sass.~Tiffany Taylor

How Do I Love Thee?...Let Me Count The Ways! ALL THE THINGS I LOVE ABOUT MY SWEET SWEET HUSBAND!

I'm so proud of Hugh. He has dreamed for years of becoming a doctor. And I've had the privledge of seeing that dream come true. He has worked incredibly hard to get where he is, and we've made lots of sacrifices. But, it has been worth every second.

I love how helpful he can be. If we see an accident on the side of the road often times he will stop and offer to help. This is not an everyday occurance. Nor does it happen everytime we see an accident. But, I'm glad the Lord has given me a small insight into his work.

He can still make me blush when he gives me a compliment. Just the other day, we were eating lunch together, and I looked up to see him staring at me. He said you look very pretty today. It gave me butterflies. hee-hee

I love getting cards from him. He always writes the sweetest things in his cards. They are like little love letters, I've collected over the years. I treasure them.

He is a great conversationalist. We can still sit and talk for hours.

He is very loyal and protective of his loved ones, family and friends.

He is a really good friend, and a good friend to have.

I love exploring new places with him. One thing we both like to do is visit old grave yards and try to find the oldest tomb stone there.

I love to go for rides with him. We just ride and listen to music. We have a lot of the same taste in music. And he's actually introduced me to a lot of things I probably would have never given a chance, because I thought it just wasn't my style. Before we had children, we wouild ride in the country, music blaring and sing at the top of our lungs. -Good times!

He is great at surprises! He'll do little things here and there, like wash and gas up my car, or bring me flowers unexpectedly. And he sometimes surprises the kids and I with a new fish for our tank.- Just little things really, but the brighten my day!

I love how giving he is. Just the other day our friends Glen and Heidi were telling us about how their cell phone company couldn't fix their phone. Well, we just happened to still have our phones from when we were with the same company, and Hugh offered them his old phone, charger, and car charger. That really touched my heart. He can be so thoughtful sometimes.

I love how silly we can be together sometimes.

I love how he calls from work just to check on us, or say he's been thinking about us and missing us.

I love Hugh's lips. I 've always said he has rosebud lips.

Hugh knows how much I love Fank Sinatra. He could care less about old blue eyes. But, I can't help it, I just love his voice. So, yesterday, when he came home from work, I was busy doing dishes, and he found a radio station/website that plays all Sinatra's classics. And he put it on while he read and I tiddied up the kitchen. What a sweetheart!

Cliche or not, I love that he is the tall, dark and handsome type. Very easy on the eyes....What can I say, I'm a lucky lady!

I love that he wants me to stay up with him after he gets home so we can visit or watch a movie together. It makes me feel special. And it lets me know he still really wants to be with me.

I love cooking with my husband. We used to try out new recipes together all the time, before we had kids. Now it's a blessing to get to eat a meal together as a family. But, it's fun to be in the kitchen with him, cooking and visiting.

I love the kindness my husband shows for others. It makes me proud to see him help an older gentleman carry his groceries to the car, or when he gives a little old lady his arm to help her up an icy curb and into a building in the snow.

I love how he holds my hand when we pray in church. I hope that never changes.

I still get butterflies when he comes in the door after long day of work. Especially when he scoops up the babies into his arms and covers them with hugs and kisses.~How can you not just fall in love all over again!

I love how Hugh has to go in to look at the babies at least three times every night, while they sleep. I can see how much he adores them just watching him look at them.

I Love how he listens and hugs me when I need to share something that is on my heart.

I love how Hugh runs back in to kiss me goodbye, before he leaves for work.

The Love Of My Life

Our Children

About Me

I am a Southern Belle living in the heart of the Deep South. I love the Lord, and I'm happily married with two beautiful children. I am drawn to all things traditional, cultural, aesthetic, and domestic. I also love to entertain. So Welcome!